Mind the Bridge

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Mind the Bridge Mind the Bridge is a global open innovation platform, providing services and products to corporates a procurement, investments, and/or acquisitions).

Mind the Bridge is a global open innovation platform that empowers economies through entrepreneurship and innovation. Headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in Barcelona, Seoul, Tel Aviv, New York and Milan, it has been working as an international bridge at the intersection between startups and corporates since 2007. Mind the Bridge scouts, filters, and works with 10,000+ startups a year supporting global corporations with open innovation initiatives that translate into curated deals with startups (POCs. It also provides corporates with advisory services and benchmarking on innovation strategies and structures. Mind the Bridge developed MTB Ecosystem, an AI-powered open innovation matching platform for innovation ecosystem hubs and corporates. Mind the Bridge, in collaboration with the International Chamber of Commerce, annually runs the “Corporate Startup Stars”, which recognize the world’s most startup-friendly global corporates, and "Startup Ecosystem Stars" Awards, that aims at identifying the public and private organizations focused on supporting Innovation in their respective ecosystems. For more info: http://mindthebridge.com |

10/09/2026

🌟 Behind the Stars: the Class of 2025 🌟

For the second episode of the series, we cross over to the corporate side with , one of the Corporate Startup Stars 2025 top 100 🇫🇷

Vincent Clot, Space Business Catalyst Director at Thales, on what this recognition really means: a validation that years of working with startups and backing bold ideas paid off, and why staying ahead is an ongoing challenge, built on constantly looking for what’s coming next.

Over the next weeks we’ll alternate between ecosystem builders and corporates, so you get both sides of the same story: the places that foster innovation, and the companies that put it to work.

⏪ Two new Stars every week, follow along! ▶️

🌟 Innovation Stars Summit 2026・November 10–13・at ▶️

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Final videoclip credits:
🇫🇷

🌊The sea carries the world’s data, energy and trade, and it’s more connected and digital than ever: 99% of global intern...
10/07/2026

🌊The sea carries the world’s data, energy and trade, and it’s more connected and digital than ever: 99% of global internet traffic runs through subsea cables, 1.5 million km of them (Fincantieri, 2026).
Protecting and running this domain has become an engineering challenge as much as a naval one.

That’s what the Fincantieri Maritime Dual-Use Hackathon is about. 👇

Three real challenges, straight from Fincantieri:
⚙️ OT Cybersecurity & Blast Radius Analysis
📐 Piping Layout Optimization
🚢 Software-Defined Vessel

36 hours to build on real problems alongside engineers, developers, founders and researchers, and the chance to keep developing the most promising concepts with Fincantieri’s experts.

No maritime background required, just bring your skills.
📍 Mind the Bridge Innovation Center, San Francisco
🗓 October 16–18, 2026

Applications are open → limited spots 🔗 link in bio

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Qualcomm Fincantieri Berkeley Institute for Security and Governance FSI Stanford Berkeley Gateway Accelerator bayareaoc Hustle Hours Podcast
Sanita Laiviņa Youree Alex Aguilar Giorgos Georgopoulos

10/06/2026

Before the next take the stage, we’re rewinding to the ones who already made their mark ⏪

This is Behind the Stars: the Class of 2025 🌟
The winners of last year’s Corporate Startup Stars and Startup Ecosystem Stars, sharing in their own words what it takes to build an ecosystem and a company worth watching.

We’re opening with São Paulo Innovation District · Startup Ecosystem Stars 2025 🇧🇷
André Aquino, Director of Science, Technology & Innovation and President of the Executive Board at the São Paulo Innovation District, on what innovation districts are really about, ideas and connections, and on the ambition to build a new, sustainable economy with real social impact, connected to innovation ecosystems around the world.

Over the next weeks we’ll alternate between ecosystem builders and corporates, so you get both sides of the same story: the places that foster innovation, and the companies that put it to work.

Follow along as we rewind through the whole Class of 2025. Two new Stars every week. ⏪

Because the next ones rise soon 👇
🌟 Innovation Stars Summit 2026・November 10–13・at ▶️

MTBISS26

09/29/2026

For a decade, our Stars shone all over Europe: Berlin, Brussels, Madrid, London, Paris. 🌎

This year, for the first time, they will cross the Atlantic ✈️🇺🇸

The Corporate Startup Stars & Startup Ecosystem Stars come together under one new umbrella, the Innovation Stars Summit 2026, and move to , in the heart of .🌟

Three days where the global open innovation and startup ecosystem communities meet in the place where some of the world’s most consequential ideas were born.💡

A new coast, a new chapter: an Award Ceremony, workshops, conferences, masterclasses and networking opportunities 🚀

📍November 10–13
🗓️ Stanford University · Silicon Valley

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🔗 Link in bio for the full Agenda

09/25/2026

Microplastics have already been found in the blood of 77% of EU citizens. ⚠️ 
The root problem? We keep using packaging built to last 400 years for something we throw away in 5 minutes.

 is changing that with a material made to simply disappear. 
🌱 Using seaweed and natural plants, their packaging runs directly on standard factory machinery with zero plastic, zero chemical modifications, and no “forever chemicals” (PFAs).

Having already eliminated over 50 million single-use plastics across Europe, they’re proving sustainable materials can work at true industrial scale.

🌊 Through the Lighthouse Acceleration Program, we are working alongside , , and to connect Notpla’s team directly with Catalunya’s maritime supply chains, passenger terminals, and coastal events.

🎬 Hit play to hear Conor Ludden (Senior Business Development Manager) share their vision.

Read the full story on MTB’s Tech Movers & Shakers blog 🔗 link in bio!

09/17/2026

Connecting deep-tech solutions with real-world port infrastructure ⚓️⚡️

Hydrogen is essential for maritime decarbonization, but its distribution remains a major bottleneck for industrial scale-up.

That’s where Methanol Reformer comes in. Instead of moving compressed gas, their technology uses liquid methanol, already supported by global supply chains, to generate high-purity hydrogen on-demand.
Their containerized units deliver plug-and-play power in weeks, offering a practical alternative while new hydrogen infrastructure catches up.

As part of the Lighthouse Acceleration Program (powered by us alongside , , and ), we’re guiding their scaling journey to turn this technology into active harbor pilots.

🎬 Watch Business Development Manager Adrià Sancho Fibla break down how they’re scaling from Barcelona into international markets.

🔗 Read their full founder feature on MTB’s Tech Movers & Shakers blog | Link in bio

Great things get built in great partnerships 🤝We’re proud to announce the official partners joining us for the Fincantie...
09/11/2026

Great things get built in great partnerships 🤝
We’re proud to announce the official partners joining us for the Fincantieri Maritime Dual-Use Hackathon this October in San Francisco.

Two of the sharpest names in security innovation are backing the event: Berkeley Institute for Security and Governance the UC Berkeley Institute for Security and Governance, and FSI Stanford the Stanford Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation (Freeman Spogli Institute), together with Mission Applied Berkeley and the Berkeley Gateway Accelerator Berkeley Gateway Accelerator. They bring the credibility, the networks and the community that put this hackathon on the map for the people who should be in the room.

And the building doesn’t stop when the 48 hours do. Silicon Mountain will help the most promising projects go further, with venture-building support, mentorship, and access to subject-matter experts, including engineers from Fincantieri, to refine and develop the winning ideas.

Add Qualcomm hardware and on-site engineering, and you get a rare setup: real challenges, real tools, and real people who can take your prototype somewhere after the weekend.

📍 MTB Innovation Center, San Francisco
 🗓 October 16–18, 2026
No maritime background required, just the ability to build.

Applications are open 🔗 link in bio.

For a decade, the Corporate Startup Stars and Startup Ecosystem Stars Awards moved through Europe’s innovation capitals,...
09/03/2026

For a decade, the Corporate Startup Stars and Startup Ecosystem Stars Awards moved through Europe’s innovation capitals, from Berlin and Brussels to Madrid, Paris and London 🌍

This year our Stars are heading west. 🌌🇺🇸

On November 12, the CSS and SES Awards move to Stanford University, in the heart of Silicon Valley, as part of the Innovation Stars Summit 2026. It’s not just a new location, it’s a new chapter, bringing the global corporate innovation and startup ecosystem communities to the place where some of the world’s most consequential companies and ideas were born.

Two awards, one stage:
🌟 CSS recognizes the corporates leading open innovation worldwide.
🌟 SES celebrates the governments and organizations building the ecosystems that make it possible.
Together, the global benchmark for who’s actually moving innovation forward.

Keep an eye here, there’s a lot more to come from the Stars 👀

📌 Save the date: November 12 · Stanford University

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450 Townsend Street, Fl 1st
San Francisco, CA
94107

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 8pm

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